Have You Ever Tried Hookah? Experts Say More College Women Are Lighting Up

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know a lot about hookah. I managed to sail through my college years without encountering anyone smoking hookah pipes. But, apparently hookah-smoking is on the rise...

According to a new report published in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, nearly a quarter of all college freshman women have tried hookah, a pipe where tobacco is filtered through a water pipe. Yikes--that's kind of a big number.

This is troubling news to many health experts who say that young women mistakenly believe that hookah pipes are healthier than cigarettes. However, hookah use has been linked to lung cancer, respiratory illness and periodontal disease.

I'm so curious to know if you've ever tried a hookah pipe or if you have friends who smoked in college?